Motor News

Here’s a great example of the classic MG motoring experience.MGs and other postwar sports cars offered high-quality driving at affordable prices.Check out the auction, which ends on March 14, on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos.Car and DriverMorris Garages started life as sporting specials, lightweight bodies perched on the chassis of heavier Morris cars. Early MGs were lively handlers and helped spur the postwar sportscar craze on both sides of the Atlantic. Up for auction this week is a lovely slice of vintage MG life.From the C/D ArchiveThis 1954 MG TF 1500 is essentially an updated version of an idea that started in the 1920s. It followed the MG TD, which was preceded by the TC, and it by the TB. The MGA that immediately followed it in 1955 was the first modern MG, and it gave rise to a breed of cars that would create a new generation of enthusiasts.Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerReturning GIs brought a few MGs back from England’s green and pleasant land, and MG also had success as an exporter. They weren’t Jaguars or Austin-Healeys, but they were more affordable to buy and relatively simple to work on. That simplicity is necessary, as owning a vintage British car requires a certain mechanical aptitude—and an even deeper knowledge of creative vulgarities. This TF example wears a little more chrome than may be acceptable in collector circles, but it is well restored and has the desirable 1.5-liter engine. The twin-carburetor four-cylinder is good for 62 horsepower, which makes the octagonal, 105-mph speedometer seem a trifle optimistic.Cars the likes of the TF weren’t built for interstate drudgery. They were made for zipping around on country lanes at a pace that feels criminal but won’t raise concern with the constabulary.Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerIt’s the wind in your hair, bugs in your teeth, what’s-that-funny-smell, sheer exhilaration of motoring that has kept these vehicles popular into the current day. An MG T-series feels more alive at 30 mph than a Porsche Boxster does at 70.MG left the U.S. market with the rubber-bumper MGB, which had a crash-test-mandated ride height like a Porsche 911 Dakar. The MG brand is currently part of Chinese manufacturer SAIC’s portfolio, and its U.K.-market electric MG4 crossover is reportedly pleasant to drive and comes in at about three-quarters the price of a VW ID.4. But the present is not the past, and while the future of the U.K. auto industry has glimmers of optimism, experiencing an MG T-series like this one will take you back to the brand’s golden age.Car and driverCar and driver Lettermark logoContributing EditorBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More

Jeep showed off two new teasers ahead of the 2023 Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah.The brand uses the event, now in its 57th year, as a showcase for new concept vehicles.The company released the first two “trail markers” hinting at what it will bring to the event scheduled for April 1–9, 2023.Jeep Nation rejoice! The Easter Jeep Safari is nearly upon us. This year will mark the 57th Safari, and true to form, Jeep has started hinting at the wild concepts it will bring. The first two teasers—or “trail markers,” as Jeep is calling them—were released today. Rather than images or renderings, the company showed off two eye-catching sketches. The first sketch shows what looks to be a muscled-up two-door version of the Gladiator truck wearing a wide set of knobby off-road-ready tires hiding under what look to be the largest fenders we’ve ever spotted on a Jeep. From what we can tell by squinting through the blinding green haze of the sketch, the driver’s-side mirror has migrated from the A-pillar and now rests directly in front of the enlarged front fender. Jeep/StellantisThe second sketch has a bit more muted color scheme, which seems to be Jeep’s way of showing off the blue-trimmed 4xe font. This concept looks like a more straightforward Wrangler Rubicon off-roader, and we can once again spot enlarged fenders. Unlike in the Green Giant sketch, the mirror placement in this sketch look standard. One element that’s not standard is that the doors have been replaced by tube half-doors, while the rear windows are replaced by some sort of Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) utility rack. Last year Jeep brought a whopping seven concept vehicles to the event. We think it’s a safe bet that they will bring at least that many this year as well. Two more each week between now and the start of the Easter Jeep Safari would bring the total to eight, topping last year’s figure. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Associate News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

The inner 10-year-old in all of us certainly appreciated Ford shoving a 700-horsepower supercharged V-8 under the hood of the F-150 Raptor to make the Raptor R. But exactly what did Ford need to change to accommodate the heavier powertrain? In our latest suspension test video, Dan Edmunds finds out by exploring underneath the front and rear of a 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R. He also puts it through our Ramp Travel Index test to compare the Raptor R’s flex to other Raptor variants and, of course, the Ram 1500 TRX. As it turns out, the additional weight didn’t require comprehensive changes to the design of the suspension. The front spring rates are stiffer, but fundamentally the suspension package is the same as other Raptors. We also see the weight for the mounted 37-inch wheels.In the rear, Edmunds explains the benefits of the Raptor’s independent suspension and its inverted shocks. We learn how the active Fox Live Valve Shocks work, and we see how the middle of the Panhard rod has been flattened to make room for the 37-inch spare tire.The RTI test highlights the Raptor R’s 33.1-degree approach angle. But you might be surprised to see that the Raptor R has a lower score than not only the Ram 1500 TRX, but also every other Raptor variant. What gives? Watch to learn.More on Raptor and TRXThis content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Deputy Editor, VideoFrom selling them to testing them, Carlos Lago has spent his entire adult life consumed by cars. He currently drives the creative behind Car and Driver video. More

Alfa Romeo is planning a large electric SUV flagship that could arrive in 2028, per a report by Auto Express.After interviewing Alfa CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato, the British outlet believes the brand will build an EV SUV the size of a BMW iX before the decade’s end.Imparato also told AE that Alfa plans to introduce an electric sedan in 2027 that’ll be even bigger than the upcoming 2025 Giulia EV.Before the end of the decade, Alfa Romeo plans to build a large electric SUV that’s similar in size to the BMW iX. At least that’s what British car magazine Auto Express reported today after an interview with Alfa CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato.Alfa’s Future EV FlagshipImparato told the British car magazine that sometime in 2027 the brand will introduce an electric sedan that’s suited for North America. It’ll be in the same size category as the Audi A6 and BMW 5-series, so it’ll be bigger than the upcoming 2025 Giulia EV. Following the debut of the size-up sedan, Imparato mentioned introducing a “built-up model in 2028”. AE believes this to be a large electric SUV that’ll be Alfa’s future flagship, which makes sense considering the company has previously discussed building bigger and smaller SUVs to surround the current compact-sized Stelvio. So far, the company has only introduced the subcompact Tonale plug-in hybrid.Alfa Romeo TimelinesAnother STLA Large AdopterThe speculation is that the bigger electric sedan and SUV will be based on the Stellantis Group’s STLA Large platform. It’s the same one that’ll underpin the Giulia EV, offering an 800-volt electrical architecture with rapid-charging capability. Regarding the bigger future sedan, Imparato told AE it’ll be able to recharge 80 percent of its battery in 18 minutes and aim for over 400 miles of driving range. He also said Alfa’s design language is set through 2027, so that includes the time frame for the sedan but not the SUV. While AE’s article includes a rendering of what it thinks Alfa’s future flagship could look like, we’ll likely have to wait quite awhile until we get an official glimpse of the big-bodied ute. For now, we’ll just have to use what we know about the Italian automaker’s current aesthetic to fuel our imagination.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Senior EditorEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

The 2023 Tesla Model S and Model X add a $3000 Ultra Red paint option, which replaces the previous $2K red paint. Both Teslas also add a newly designed glass roof that’s said to weigh less and let in more light, albeit with the same UV protection.Plaid models add new brake pads that have a higher thermal capacity than before—they’re also still without the carbon-ceramic kit Tesla promised.For folks who want the prettiest red paint on their 2023 Tesla Model S or Model X, they’ll have to shell out $3000. That’s the price of the new Ultra Red paint option that Tesla offers on its two largest models.The new red paint replaces the $2000 Red Multi-Coat option that’s still available on the Model 3 and the Model Y. The higher-priced color on the Model S and X arrives just days after Tesla marked down each by about $5000 and $10K, respectively. However, Tesla gives both of them minor updates too.Is It Getting Hot in Here?Outside of the new prettier-but-pricier paint, the Model S and X add a newly designed glass roof that’s said to weigh less than the one it replaces. Shaving weight off the top could help lower the two Teslas’ center of gravity, which in turn could improve their handling.On the other hand, we we’re not thrilled with the idea of a glass roof that’s said to allow five-times more light into the cabin. Tesla claims it provides the the same amount of UV protection as the old one, so we’ll just have to wait to sit in one on a piping-hot sunny day to find out.Give Us a BrakeOn the bright side (pun intended), the high-performance Plaid variants of the Model S and Model X now have improved brake pads. Tesla claims the new pads offer a higher thermal capacity than the old ones.TeslaFrom what we can decipher off of Tesla’s Twitter, the update only affects the brake pads, leaving the standard rotors and calipers unchanged. We’ve criticized the stock brakes on the Model S Plaid before, so we’re happy to see improvements (no matter how minor). Still, it’s worth noting Tesla has yet to introduce the track-capable carbon-ceramic brake option the company promised is on the way.Tesla Price ChangesThis content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Associate News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into Tesla on Wednesday after receiving reports of Model Y steering wheels detaching from their respective columns. Documents published on Wednesday by NHTSA say that it’s aware of two separate incidents involving 2023 Tesla Model Y vehicles where the steering wheel detached completely from the steering column while the cars were being driven. In both instances, the Model Ys in question were delivered without the retaining bolt necessary for securing the wheel to the column. The documents say that both incidents occurred at low vehicle mileage. NHTSA says its investigation, formally launched March 4, applies to an estimated 120,000-plus vehicles.This content is imported from twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.One of the complaints noted in the NHTSA document, according to the Associated Press, can be traced back to a now-viral tweet that shows video of the detached wheel and the vehicle getting towed. The owner was originally charged $103.96 to repair the wheel before Tesla removed the charge. The owner was issued a new Model Y shortly after, The Verge reports.Previous RecallsThe investigation comes just a few weeks after Tesla was forced to recall 362,000 cars over its faulty self-driving beta system, which NHTSA determined could increase the risk of a crash when in use. That’s just the latest in a long line of Tesla recalls that span all the way back to the 2012 model year. Road & Track staff writer with a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing. More

Mercedes revealed pricing for the upcoming 2023 GLC-class SUV, with prices ranging from $48,250 to $54,600.Despite having nearly identical looks to the outgoing model, the 2023 GLC is all new underneath.A turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four with a 48-volt hybrid system will be the only U.S. powertrain option at launch, with Mercedes planning to bring a plug-in-hybrid model later. The arrival of spring ushers in a new generation for the GLC-class. Mercedes has released pricing ahead of the crossover’s imminent arrival. The base GLC300 now starts at $48,200 in a rear-drive format, and upgrading to Merc’s 4Matic all-wheel drive tacks an additional $2000 onto that price. More on Mercedes-BenzFollowing in the footsteps of the C-class, the GLC adds two new trim levels with the new generation. The Exclusive trim starts at $50,500 and adds amenities like a Burmester sound system, navigation, a 360-degree camera, and illuminated doorsills. Upgrading to the Pinnacle trim brings all the standard features and those from the Exclusive trim, such as augmented video for navigation and a head-up display.Mercedes-BenzAlong with its slightly larger price, the GLC-class has grown physically for its new generation. From nose to tail, the new GLC is 2.4 inches longer than its predecessor. The wheelbase has also expanded by 0.6 inch, allowing rear legroom to increase by a meager 0.1 inch. More obvious is the growth in luggage capacity, with the new car’s 22 cubic feet being three cubic feet more than the old model.When the GLC first reaches showroom floors, it will be equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine working in conjunction with a 48-volt hybrid system through an integrated starter-generator. Similar to the C300 sedan, this engine delivers peaks of 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Buyers will have the choice of the standard rear-drive setup or Mercedes’s 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. A plug-in hybrid and AMG models are set to follow some time after the standard GLC is launched. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Associate News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

After winning the prestigious 24 Hours of Daytona in January, Meyer Shank Racing is being penalized for manipulating tire-pressure data sent to IMSA during the race.The team is losing 200 points in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, owner Mike Shank has been put on probation, and one engineer has been suspended indefinitely.However, the team remains the official winner of the race and will be allowed to keep the trophy, with the drivers holding onto the Rolex prize watches.When the green flag flew for the final restart with 27 minutes left in the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona, the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06 streaked ahead, cruising to victory by just over four seconds. But now the team is coming under fire, with IMSA dishing out substantial penalties after Meyer Shank Racing was found to have manipulated tire-pressure data during the race.Marc Urbano|Car and DriverAfter the race, Honda Performance Development (HPD)—which works closely with teams that run the top-class Acura GTP race cars—noticed discrepancies in the No. 60’s data and launched an investigation. They discovered that Meyer Shank Racing had made “intentional software offsets” in the tire pressures that were reported by the monitoring system—basically, the team was artificially inflating the tire pressure data, so the numbers sent to IMSA were higher than the pressures they were actually running.This allowed Meyer Shank Racing to run its pressures below the prescribed minimums set by Michelin, which provides the tires for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, which could help improve traction under acceleration or in corners.Caleb Miller|Car and DriverAs a result of HPD’s discovery, the team and the drivers of the No. 60—Tom Blomqvist, Colin Braun, Helio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud—were stripped of 200 of the 350 points earned in the race towards the full-season WeatherTech Championship. They also lost all points that go towards the Michelin Endurance Cup, which includes all races that are at least six hours long.The team and drivers are also being fined $50,000 and will have to return the prize money from winning the 24 Hours of Daytona. Team owner Mike Shank is now on probation through June 30, while engineer Ryan McCarthy is on indefinite suspension and has lost his IMSA credential. More on Endurance RacingHowever, the official race results stand, meaning the No. 60 is still the winner, with the team getting to keep the trophy and the four drivers retaining the Rolex watches that are given out as prizes. In a statement, Meyer Shank Racing said “We accept the series’ decision and have taken responsibility.” The team also stated that “the team member that was responsible is no longer with the organization” and that they “do not want this error to overshadow the tremendous effort that our team, drivers and all of our partners have put for to develop this new LMDh car.” This suggests that McCarthy acted alone in manipulating the data, and that it was not a concerted effort from the team as a whole to break the rules in an attempt to win the race. HPD said in a statement from president David Salters, “We are extremely disappointed in the misconduct of the Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) team” and to have the two-year development of the ARX-06 “put into question is unacceptable.”This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Associate News EditorCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More